UK eating disorder patients face rationing of care, psychiatrists say

Exclusive: union says severely ill patients being discharged as they are not getting better quickly enough

Severely unwell eating disorder patients who are not responding to treatment are being discharged owing to a rationing of care, the Royal College of Psychiatrists has said.

Patients with extremely low body mass indexes are being dumped from treatment plans in some areas because they are not getting better quickly enough amid increased demand and pressure on services. Admissions for eating disorders have risen by 84% in the past five years.